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J4 ›› 2014, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (1): 115-124.doi: 10.1016/S1672-6529(14)60026-3

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Preparation and Evaluation of Electrospun Zein/HA Fibers Based on Two Methods of Adding HA Nanoparticles

Mei Zhang, Yongjia Liu, Yuqing Jia, Hongshuang Han, Dahui Sun   

  1. 1. College of Quartermaster Technology, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, P. R. China
    2. Norman Bethune First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, P. R. China
  • Received:2013-03-12 Revised:2013-12-13 Online:2014-01-10 Published:2014-01-10
  • Contact: Dahui Sun E-mail:sundahui1971@sina.com
  • About author:Mei Zhang, Yongjia Liu, Yuqing Jia, Hongshuang Han, Dahui Sun

Abstract:

Zein/HA fibrous membranes were successfully prepared by electrospinning the zein/HA solution mixed by magnetic stirrer (Method I) or ultrasonic power (Method II). The morphology of zein/HA nanocomposite fibers and the distribution of HA within the fibers electrospun by two methods were researched by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). In Method I, the distribution of HA nanoparticles is not homogeneous and HA particles tend to agglom-erate. The relatively homogeneous HA distribution can be observed in the membranes electrospun by Method II. Using mag-netic stirrer to prepare the electrospinning solution improves the wettability of zein/HA membranes. From the viewpoint of application, electrospun zein/HA membranes fabricated by the solution mixed via Methods I and II both possessed reasonable tensile strength and elongation at break for both handling and sterilization. Considering two aspects of strength and elongation, electrospun zein/HA membranes fabricated by Method I are more balanced than those fabricated by Method II. Biological performances of the control zein and zein/HA membranes were assessed by in vitro culture of hMSCs. Results show that both types of the membranes can support cell proliferation. The cells cultured on the zein/HA membranes electrospun by Method I with 5 wt% HA (on weight of zein) show significantly higher proliferation than those cultured on the control zein membranes on the seventh day. The electrospun zein/HA fibrous membranes show promises for bone tissue engineering applications.

Key words: zein/HA fibers, MSCs, electrospinning, cell proliferation, tissue engineering